21/04/2021
Call for chapter[s]
Greetings everyone.
We have initially obtained an affirmative response to our new ideas regarding the publication of our next book.
Publication date is TBA, but 2022/23 is anticipated (pending publisher's acceptance). We are trying to engage the same publisher yet once again,
hence, making them an offer they cannot refuse is imperative!
Best practices is always our focus and we wish to be even more inclusive with having additional experts join our think tank
and publishing team. If you have colleagues who may be interested PLEASE share this email with them in confidence.
The lack of a wider discussion on "special needs" and issues pertinent to "systems" (justice, incrassation, societal acceptance, forensic,
reporting, sexual and other abuse - perp & victim/isation - appears to be neglected. Issues surrounding both the individual as well as their family
that reflect such/other/similar issues and ideas need to be highlighted; case studies are particularly attractive to publishers as we know.
Please take a look below and kindly keep these thoughts almost confidential :-)
In addition, if you may suggest experts who may act as reviewers for our book proposal (to the publisher) please let me know!
I hope you will have your own view and angle at this, and that you will be able to shape it into a chapter for the next book!
By this Sunday, please let me know via email if your tentative chapter title as well as of any feedback/suggestions/thoughts, etc.
Kindly feel free to keep it brief, as I hope to complete the formal book proposal by Monday 27 April 2021.
Tentative "Book Proposal"
Proposed tentative/initial book title: “Autism: A Metamorphic Orientation toward Systems, People, and Things.”
Book theses: While Autism has mainly been discussed from the biological, psychological, and other approaches, little focus has been given to what I would call Metamorphic Changes, introjected between People, Systems, and Things.
On the one hand, the race may seemingly be one toward understanding the cause or prevention of autism, how one needs to work in therapy with Autistic people, and/or handle the increasing numbers of children in the educational, societal and other systems. Autistic people seem to be ‘afflicted’ by numerous other ‘nuances’ (or 'curses') that may be/come detrimental to their daily life and being.
The 'numbers' of people on the spectrum have radically accelerated over the past 20 years. What used to be “one in 65 people” is now one in 35 in NJ and soon, according to some research from MIT, one in two children born in the US will be on the spectrum! With such alarming numbers we all need to be concerned, interested and care, if not be alarmed to say the least.
Life is ever-changing, with evolutionary (epi-genetics) best practices, support, education and treatment. In the Western world the ‘autism universe’ – just like the rest of our health issues – seems to be driven by insurance company maneuvers, the pharmaceutical industry goals, and their "capitalistic" needs. The former one-to-one weekly therapy session - with a trained professional - seems to be shifting into assistive therapy offered by parents following their training in order to – essentially - drive health insurance cost down.
Systems, people and things may have failed people on the spectrum yet once again.
Processes with Autistic people ought to be simple, cathartic, stress-free, and refreshing to families and their environment. However, for most people on the spectrum the opposite seems to be a daily reality.
Systems and things were never designed or modified in order to be considerate, accommodate for or even assist with an Autistic person’s needs, wants, faults, strengths, opportunities, weaknesses/life. Alas, people who are on the spectrum often find themselves in trouble, be it with the educational, legal, criminal justice, religious, cultural, political, or other systems, without even understanding the reason[s] why most of the time[s]. Autistic people may often have issues handling things that were designed for "neurotypical people" to begin with; injury or harm caused by gadgets may at times be their reality.
In a world where the use of technology is ever present, with virtual reality, the internet, gadgets, robots, the media, social media and many other variables affecting one’s daily life, Autistic people may be/feel 'lost' as far as their sense of purpose, function, or even reality are concerned. Often, principles that were designed for – or meant to be for neurotypical people – fail to support the needs, wants, or functions of Autistic people.
As one example, we could look at differences of how autistic people may sometimes get in trouble for what in their mind may be innocent behavior (i.e. touching, kissing, hugging, or simply 'liking' someone). Generally, all/other behaviors that could lead to trouble with the law. Wearing clothes, or not, is often an issue with children on the spectrum who have sensory issues; such behaviors may not be tolerated in, and by the greater society and its laws.
Children/adults/people on the spectrum may suffer quietly if they find themselves into child/other protective custody care with probably traumatizing, long lasting effects. Though some work has been done in a few scientific areas over the last few years, such as in the legal system, police, educational systems, etc., much work still remains to be done.
Arrest procedures (or mere commands), maltreatment, harassment, abuse, emotional/sexual abuse, trafficking, legal, ethical and other dilemmas may be some parts of the transformative ‘cultures’ one needs to discuss. New emerging movements need to support all non-neurotypical people on "all fronts" during their daily life. Research and best practices must be specifically designed for Autistic people too with much sensitivity and other training taking place to all the rest of us.
Our view remains that a multidisciplinary approach (360 degrees) toward Autism renders the most effective and efficient results. When it comes to improving the quality of life of children, adults, and of their families, new research is critical particularly with regard to areas such as maltreatment, forensics, abuse, neglect, harassment, trafficking, issues/trouble with the law, with the police, DCF, and the court systems - to name a few.
Autistic people have their own, unique way of understanding and communicating with "the world" – a world that (for them) has no evil, no hatred, and no malice. A world usually filled with love and human caring (from their perspective).
Of course, such an "angelic world" is quite the opposite of the one we live in. Since the core of non-neurotypical people cannot change, or change much, it is incumbent upon the rest of us to alter the systems, our behaviors, our laws, our cultures and our things, in order to accommodate for the needs of our fellow humans.
We have the responsibility to protect, to safeguard, to support, to scaffold, to enrich, to hold high and to enable them to enjoy an increased quality of life, on the one hand, and to be as successful as they wish to be, or can, on the other.
For long we have observed what some may dared and called on/out the mockery of "systems" that has through the decades harmed many Autistic people, and may have brought havoc to their families.
It is high time we investigated and shared the research and best practices in order to set a metamorphic course of action for our society, our people, our systems, and our things. Hence, offering our people on the spectrum all the opportunities they deserve to have in a just and fair fashion.
Thank you all.
Warmly,
Neo
PS 2nd book, in press, 2021
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